What cheap car / truck for a tall immigrant?

Greetings

I'm a 6'7" Brit moving to the US in 2013. I married an American girl so now it is my turn to move to the former colony and take up the missionary work!

I need a cheapish runaround as the long-haired general wants an SUV, so the new car will be hers. I'm after anything from a VW Passat 4motion estate upwards - quite like the idea of one of those Elements if I can get one cheap enough, or a smallish pickup with a crew cab. Any thoughts on what I might want to try for size when I land?

As I am all man, no need for anything with a stupidly big engine. I have nothing to prove.

Small to midsize trucks generally do not have the leg room, I drive a Ford Ranger at work and I barely fit at 6' in the thing. Actually I used to drive a Ford Escape at my last job and it had more leg room!

My personal truck is a Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab and it has pretty decent leg room. Gets about 4mpg less per gallon than most mid-size trucks on average.

I'm a 6'7" Brit moving to the US in 2013. I married an American girl so now it is my turn to move to the former colony and take up the missionary work!

I need a cheapish runaround as the long-haired general wants an SUV, so the new car will be hers. I'm after anything from a VW Passat 4motion estate upwards - quite like the idea of one of those Elements if I can get one cheap enough, or a smallish pickup with a crew cab. Any thoughts on what I might want to try for size when I land?

As I am all man, no need for anything with a stupidly big engine. I have nothing to prove.

What did you drive back home?

Remember when we were kids and our Mom's said we could not play in the mud? I'm making up for it now!!

I currently drive a Volvo V50 which is a great fit. My wife currently has a Nissan X Trail, the European version of the XTerra. I know I fit in a Kia Sorrento (probably her car when we move). These aren't much help as the US market is so unique with most models on the CONUS not available elsewhere. I have been really annoyed on previous visits to the States with the lack of space in most all vehicles. Given the overall much bigger size it doesn't transfer to the driver position.

As far as other requirements go - not much. I can put a bike on the outside of most things. 4WD might be nice, but other than getting 2 adults and a kid in, nothing else needed.

I am 6 '7" and find most cars don't fit and that also includes some SUV's and trucks.

I have driven a full size Quad Ram pickup that I loved to drive but not all that fuel efficient.
Then I traded it in for a Subaru Forester 2009.
Love driving my Subie and it is amazing in snow and icy conditions. Lots of head room!!!!

I find Toyota's tight for head room, most chevy's, some fords and also dodge except the full size trucks.

I'm 6'6" and can barely stand to drive my wife's 08 outback. Just slightly too small as far as leg room goes. I used to drive a Tacoma extended cab prerunner with little issue. Now I have an FJ Cruiser and have more than enough leg room. i mount my bikes to the roof rack which isn't a big deal for us tall guys but you could buy a hitch carrier which simplifies a good bit? but I don't know if it classifies as cheap for you - it didn't for me...

I guess I just need to get my wife into a REALLY good job quickly and accept I'll never see 59mpg again (I know US gallons are smaller than UK gallons and diesel is rare in cars, but I love having a station wagon that I've had up to 59.1mpg on a long run). Thanks all for the inputs.

I guess I just need to get my wife into a REALLY good job quickly and accept I'll never see 59mpg again (I know US gallons are smaller than UK gallons and diesel is rare in cars, but I love having a station wagon that I've had up to 59.1mpg on a long run). Thanks all for the inputs.

Yes I know, but in terms of overall value including resale I just can't recommend generally any Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Buick. They're just not keeping pace with what Ford is doing. If you're leaning towards a domestic I'd put all my recommendation on Ford and Cadillac.

Subarus were hard to fit 4-5 years ago. The present models however I'm surprised with how well I fit. Bright cabin, intuitive designed interior with the right amount of features. Drive amazing, and don't fall apart in a couple years Dodge *cough* Chrysler *cough*

I got a buddy whose got a Honda Element and I was amazed how you sit down in the thing...there was alot of room in the thing...alot of head room..but he's not 6'7"...and he can take alot of stuff plus a couple of bikes..its a neat vehicle..not enough engine but for what its worth...it seemed like a good deal.

Lots of good suggestions here, and l hope you get to the right vehicle for you.

I did want to give you a warning on the Element. I have been an extremely satisfied owner of one since 2004. It is a *great* car for MTB (can put my Large full-suspension 29er inside w/o even lowering the seat) and many other active endeavors. BUT, I am just 6' tall, and the seat barely gives me enough room at its furthest-aft position. I doubt you'd find it comfortable with the stock seating track.

Good news is that there is tons of room betwen front and rear seating, and lots of headroom as well. If there were some way to extend or reposition the front seat track, you should be OK. If you're still considering one, you could go check out the elementownersclub forums to see how the tall folks solve this problem.

There will be differences for everyone considering their own leg length and torso lengths.

That said, I am 6'2" and have loved the room in my '92 Dodge Dakota p/u. Not sure how they are currently though. Plenty of headroom and legroom for me all these years. I got it up in Alaska, new, eventually driving it down here to Northern Cali', to Utah, Missouri, Texas... it's been a great truck. It's dying a slow death now, so hopefully next year I'll pick up a new 4-door p/u. I was hoping for something like a Tacoma or Frontier.

I did purchase a Prius in 2008 and I've had lots of room in that car! I have had guys a bit taller than me who seemed to fit in it well.
I can even fit in the back seat comfortably.
I use my 1UpUSA rack for both vehicles with no problems. I've carried two bikes in the racks with a bmx bike wedged in between, out to Paradise Royale which is a 2 hour drive, part of that on dirt road, with no problem.

I've slept inside the car, stretched from one rear to front, but that was not the most comfortable sleep I've had in a car.

I'm 6'8 and drove an Element on a road trip 5 hrs each way. The dimensions are pretty good and I fit well EXCEPT the damn centre consoles bottem left corner starts aggravating your knee over the course of time.

If I was saddles with one I'd prob take a grinder to it, or move the tracks but it's hard to say if that would fix the issue, IMO you would still be limited to driving straight legged, can never kick out that knee and let the boys breathe

I'm 6'2 and have plenty of room in my 05 Forester. I had the new Outback for a couple of days as a loaner while the wifes car was in the shop and it was very roomy. I had plenty of spare headroom even with the sunroof. Legroom seemed very good as well (I wasn't all the way back on the rails like most cars)
Worth a look if you need the AWD.

when it comes down to it, often times it's more about how much you want to fit into a car that makes a car fit or not... I know people my height that are driving miata/mx5's comfortably... when I was a bit lighter (250lbs?) I fit comfortably in a mkI mr2... I was also comfortable driving an MGB...

but each persons proportions are different... some tall guys are all legs, others are all torso...

best bet is when you get to the states hit a number of car dealers and sit in everything you can... then drive anything you remotely like that fits your budget and needs.

7'2 - I would recommend a Tacoma Quad cab, BMW X5, Nissan Titan or Audi Q7. Have the first 2 had the last 2. But it all debend on haw you sit. Long legs, long torso and seating angle.

I am suprised you think the Tacoma is that roomy. I drive a 2010 Tacoma Quadcab and at 6'-5" leg room is kinda tight for me. I can't tell you how many times I have jambed my knee getting in and the pedals are horribly placed for big feet. With that said I also have a 2012 F150 Supercrew and it is the most comfortable and roomy vehicle I have ever owned. 6'+ people can sit in the front and rear at the same time with knee room to spare.

Well my family is full of giants(7',6'7,6'6,6'1,5'8), and we absolutely love our Ford Excursion. I think they stopped making them in 2005-2006, but it is a beast. Fits our whole family comfortably and has plenty of room, it doesn't do well on gas mileage (10-15mpg in the city) and haven't had nearly any mechanical issues with ours. I think we just hit 200k miles on it.

Cheap is the statement. I have a Scion Xb I am 6'2 and when my friend came to visit last year @ 6'6" I lend him the Scion. When he went back home he bought one. The 2005-2009 have the best head and leg room the new body style are smaller inside. That would be the only option in my opinion. He recently had a bracket made to move the seat back a further 2" back and he said he will keep this car running for as long as he can. A full size adult comfortably sits I the back.

Did you actually tried it ? My wife has Tacoma Double Cab / TRD and while it doesn't have lots of space in the back, there's plenty in the front. I'm 5'10". It's pretty much best truck in this size you can get, unless you want to go for a full size but they all either have "stupidly big engines" or barely move...